Obama dines with Oprah & Gayle

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

By Emi Kolawole

Much has been made of Obama's birthday being a lonely event. First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha are in Spain while oldest daughter Malia is off to summer camp. But the president, who went to spend the night at his personal residence in Chicago, didn't spend his birthday alone. Instead, almost immediately after landing in Illinois, Obama went out to dinner with talk show mega-star Oprah Winfrey and her long-time friend Gayle King.

Obama, Winfrey and King dined at the popular Graham Elliot, which describes itself as the first 'bistronomic' restaurant - a term used to describe four-star, casual dining.

Winfrey famously came out in support of Obama during the 2008 election. Like Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who recently hosted the president at a Democratic party fundraiser, Winfrey has been a long-time supporter of the president.

...have you noticed how quiet Oprah's been since BHO became president? Apparently she's as disappointed in him as the rest of us are, but that doesn't keep her from continuing to be his friend... because she's an Aquarius, the sign of friendship...

You are doing a great job in getting this country back to where it should be, respect around the world. It is delighting to see you, Oprah, and Gayle together. Also, I just love the glow Michelle brings to the Office as First Lady. She, Sasha, and friends are having a great time in Spain as well deserved. Keep up the good work and "cudos" for your superior performance. As for Fox News, they do not count.

So Glad you have friends who care enough to weather the media and Secret Service to celebrate with you. We forget that before you decided to serve as our President, you were/are a son, brother, father, husband, dad and friend to many. Thank you again for all your dedicated hard work to make the best decisions to keep us safe, hold our economy together, attempting to make our schools better and fighting to ensure we can all get healthcare, - just simply standing when others want you to fall, seeking and believing God for wisdom on all of it and most importantly, loving your family. I and I know many others keep you and those surrounding you in prayer. Celebrate God's gift of life for another year to do His work and see your family grow and yes, shame on the media for not giving all the details and Washington Post you are one of our "trusted" sources- I am a little disappointed. Again Happy Birthday Mr. Obama, our president and may God grant you many more.

I am so glad that we have a president who isn't afraid of doing anything in the dark. He is a great man and one to be respected. There is no mud on him as far as him being a skirt chaser. The look of love is always in his eyes whenever he is around his beautiful and smart wife, as well as his two daughters. Adoration is shared between he and his wife. So, you player haters get used to he and his wife being apart,but with trust between them. President Obama is a REAL role model for all of America. The more you talk about him, the stronger he gets. He is a BLESSING from God. Again, player haters--YOU CAN'T TOUCH HIM. You are only destroying yourself--with your evil thoughts. He can sleep at nite, what about you?

This article doesn't tell the whole story, just like so much mainstream media when it comes to the President. He was at dinner with more folks than just Oprah and Gayle. Also present were longtime Obama friends Eric Whitaker, Marty Nesbitt and Valerie Jarrett. Why not say who all hs companions were instead of making it look like he went out with two women? People like to stir up mess and the President was out for an innocent dinner. shame on you washington Post for not getting all the details before you posted the story.

ChooseBestCandidate, get a life! Even if she had done so. The President returned to the U.S on that passport, after his mother divorced the man. Even if she had done so, all he would need to have done was declare his allegiance to the U.S at age 18. He is a natural born U.S. citizen, with a parent who was a U.S. citizen. You people really need to read up on what is required to be considered a U.S. Citizen. Sen. John McCain was born in the Republic of Panama. Does that make him Panamanian?

I'm glad the President is the kind of grownup who can share his birthday with friends instead of family when schedules don't mesh. Maybe, like lots of Americans (including me) he doesn't like to make a big deal of his birthday.

I'm sad that I have to share this country with so many people who find yet another thing to criticize in the way Obama spends his birthday. What business is it of theirs, anyway?

@choosebestcandidate, Just give it a rest. I am sure that President Obama and the First Lady discussed the activities that were going to take place. Some intelligent couples can put their kids before themselves but I see you are not a part of this type of union. His citizenship has already been determined or he would not be the President of the United States. LET IT GO !!!!!!

i too find it at least interesting that a president is without his family on his birthday. it just seems this would have been a major calendar notation and all other activities blending in around it?

then there's this timely article in
todays worldNetDaily:
"AUGUST 4, 2010 -- Documents released by the State Department in two separate Freedom of Information Act requests bolster evidence Barack Obama became a citizen of Indonesia when he moved to the Southeast Asian nation with his mother and stepfather in the late 1960s.

In a passport amendment submitted Aug. 13, 1968, Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, identified her son with an Indonesian surname and asked the State Department to drop him from her U.S. passport."

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.